What’s your biggest weakness?
- public speaking to large groups of people
- confident in smaller groups
- future dentists
- out of comfort zone
- how I would feel nervous before
- what did to improve (practice)
- engaged people
- link to dentistry — not vital skill (to large groups of people) but has relevance, e.g. if does conference, Cardiff outreach work, schools, dental schools, dental society etc
What have you learned from volunteering, part-time work or teamwork?
- communication is central to all 3
- outline what communication is — verbal and non verbal (tone of voice, eye contact, paraphrasing)
- STAR - care home, distressed resident, recently had stroke, communication used and (didn’t want to embarrass if I couldn’t understand etc)
- got him food etc
- link back to communication in practice both between patient and dentist and dentist and dental nurse (four handed dentistry)
- autonomy
- consent about decision GDC principle
- putting patients first
- justice
Tell me about a time you dealt with failure
- not always a bad thing - learn from mistakes (most important bit)
- didn’t get into regional team - during mocks etc wasn’t in right headspace
- reflected on performance and was able to put into place a plan to improve
- did final trial and got in
- failure during dental school - learning environment (is ok) — how you reflect on it and react to it
- good at taking feedback
- dental school will be challenging
- lifelong learning
- knowledge based learning
- do no harm (non maleficence) - beneficence
How does a dentist contribute to a wider healthcare team?
- they have a key role in the healthcare team
- primary setting: GP or dental practice, working closely with dental nurse (4 handed dentistry) and other members like hygienist and receptionist etc — observation - links sugar frequency to work experience
- secondary and tertiary care: in hospital, seen on documentaries on TV (e.g. Manchester uni hospital, maxfax surgery post cancer treatment, 11 teeth out child) not in person, seen how they interacted - specialist equipment, labs making moulds etc (technitians)
- have pivotal role in a persons health overall, discuss lifestyle (smoking, drinking, oral cancer health screening) - disconnect between oral and systemic (not two way connect)
What would you do if you accidentally damaged a patients tooth during treatment?
- pause treatment
- assess damage and come up with plan of treatment
- say sorry and explain situation
- notify patient of damage and what your solutions / remedies are
- check consent and respect choice/autonomy
- if happy to carry on with your solution, mention no cost for added treatment
- do they want further info?
- say sorry again and tell them about how to form complaints
- note everything down!!!
- GDC principle number 6: work with colleagues in a way that is in the patients best interest — recognises that dentistry is not a standalone profession but is very much focused around teamwork
- GDC principle number 9: make sure your behaviour maintains patients confidence in you and the dental profession (being honest etc)
How would you balance patient confidentiality with safeguarding concerns?
- as a dental professional, expected to behave in a certain way - gain public trust and confidence
- GDC principle number 4: maintaining and protecting patients information (maintaining confidentiality)
- recognise confidentiality is not absolute, safeguarding concerns show situations that can be broken
- for example, risk of serious harm to children or vulnerable adults, possible report to police or local children’s services
- potential harm of not sharing information outweighs any information by sharing
- court order (when required)
- patient lacks capacity to consent - disclose information if in overall best interest (benevolence)
- no scenario in work experience, but was aware there was a safeguarding lead in practice
- process to breach: seek advice, inform patient if safe for you or others to do so, disclose minimum required information, document everything!!!
How have you developed your manual dexterity?
- ankle injury = free time
- looking for non-sporty outlet
- had gross motor skills previously (drums, netball etc)
- mum refused to pay for gel nails, so I asked for it for Christmas
- was rubbish at start
- got better due to practice, draws parallels to dentistry: surface area of tooth, small tools and intricate patterns and perfect :)
- enjoy it — why dentistry
- link
How should a dentist behave?
Side note: can bring NHS values into other questions about skills etc
- privileged position working with the public, trusted profession
- governed by GDC — hear complaints, register of those registered to practice dentistry in uk, monitor dental schools, set standards and set professional guidelines, monitor professional development (expectations on behaviour) 9 principles (put patients first, obtain valid consent)
- in line with NHS core values (respect and dignity, improving lives, everyone counts)
- 6 C’s = values for those working in patient care, (competence, communication, compassion, commitment, caring, courage)
- failure to adhere to these = complaint put in, GDC will investigate (has power)
- examples of when seen this in practice e.g. communication
- example of how I’ve worked on this myself (reflected on how vital it is and have improved myself in this)
What are the advantages of CPD training?
Can bring in in other questions - why dentistry
- CPD=continuous professional development — keeping professional skills and knowledge up to date = contributes to improved safety and care
- 7th GDC principle (maintain, develop and work within your professional knowledge and skills)
- dentistry is continuously evolving - conferences, etc — side note: networking (with different disciplines - max fax surgeons, hygienists etc)
- e.g. implant techniques, intraoral scanners
- added benefit = public confidence in professional (putting patients first by having most up to date method etc)
- reflect where not up to date — 10 year health plan, 3-5 UDAs are assigned to appraisals for associates
how do you handle feedback / criticism?
- used to find it tough to take criticism, then realised its value and its a positive thing (the benefit of it)
- example - netball trial - coach gave feedback
- link to dental student
- dental nurse “LIFT” feedback (cardiff)
- dentist gets feedback about knowledge gaps
- CPD
- patient safety
a child patient arrives with suspected dental neglect - what is your duty?
- primary concern is to safeguard the child — aligns with GDC principle
- recognise and assess dental neglect: symptomatic : fillings needed, missed appointments, pain, infection
- consider age, medical history and social circumstances
- treat the issue (acting in patients best interest) relieve pain, communicate in age-appropriate way
- communicate and explore concerns with parents/guardians
- remain non-judgemental and ask what barriers there are to care (may not be intentional — no car, lost job etc)
- document it carefully
- escalate appropriately (safeguarding lead, clinical lead if student)
- follow the safeguarding protocols - may have to involve external agencies (social services etc)
